St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-08
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voI.LEY-FIRING IN SILHOUETTE.


vOLLEY-FIRINGI IN SILHOUETTE.
accouterments, hunks, barracks, etc.,
for the usual Sunday morning inspec-
ton. Inspection is the only duty ON
Sunday, excepting guard-mOunting,
which is held 365 days during the year.
Target practice is most industriously
observed during the favorable weather
months. The old style paper targets,
6x6, stationary and immovable, are now
generally superseded by silhOutte fig
lying positions. At these the soldiers
fire, advancing, retreating, at halt, on
run, ETC., the exercise coming nearer
actual warfare and hostile conditions in
time of peace as it is possible to get.
The figures are exact reproductions of
an enemy in size and position, just as if
drawn up in line of battle or lying as
skirmishers in the act of firing.
The Springfield regulation rifle is
capable of remarkable accuracy and
execution if properly handled, and in
the hands of well-drilled troops is equal,
if not superior, to the best magazine
guns i'll the world. Under the present
system OF army training observed by
our regulars the greatest execution is
going to be done at long range. From
the ancient Roman and Greek days
when battles were decided by hand-to-
hand conflicts, the tendency of warfare
has, with the inven ton and improve
ment of firearms, been slowlybu surely
drifting to distance, until to-day | be-
lieve all great contests will be settled at
ranges beyond 800 yards. Accuracy
and long-range guns are doing the busi-
ness, and, while fortunately armed with
the latter, our soldiers are being faith
fJr1 70 No inf 70
ranks nowadays pulls off his piece with
out first sighting it at somebody or
something. There were great many
explosions during the war, but how
many muSketS were properly aimed and
what percentage of hits was made in
comparison to the charges wasted? The
regular army to-day is 500 per cent.
ahead of the boys Of 81, who were
drafted and rushed pellmell into the
field without a particle OF preparation
OF training.
l think there is something like forty
nine forts and six arSenalS in the United
States. Fort KeOgh is one of the largest,
and short description of it will serve
as a fair sample OF about what all the
others are. In the first place a fort
would seem to signify a strongly forti-
fed place, with breaStWorkS, parapetS.
bastions, sally ports and lots of bristling
cannon looking down over the walls in
a threatening manner. Some Eastern
forts are constructed according to the
above description, but they are old and
out of date, having been succeeded by
totally different, peaceable concerns, al
though the latter bear the same Warlike
names and titles of their venerable an
cestOrs. a Western fort is neither more
nor less than a small town or village set
down on the open prairie. tits built in
the form of diamond, two sides of
which are composed of officers quarters
and the other two sides of barracks for
the enlisted men: in the center is
beautiful level green lawn, which is
the garrison parade ground, upon which
are performed the military evolutionS
and ceremonies spoken Of. The parade
ground at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, is one
of the handSomest spots in the whole
United States: 1t is covered with tall,
beautiful shade trees laid out in artistic
rows, and altogether is most lovely
park or promenade in summer time.
The commanding officer usually occu-
pies the finest set of quarters, which are
located at the angle formed by the juno
ton of the two lows of officers quarters.
In another angle is the post hospital
presided over by a competent surgeon
and assistants, and the guard house is
somewhere else along the line of the
mems barracks.
Outside and in rear of the quarters
and barracks are the stables, commits
Sary and quartermaSter'S departments,
ordnance depot, saddlers' and timers
shops, laundress' quarters, and perhaps
a little further back the Indian scouts
may be camped in their typical lodges
and tepees. If some of the soldiers
happen to be married, they may have
house or shack to live in, located some
where near the post or among the laun-
dresses.
AT posts were the regimental head
quarters are the regimental band is
stationed, and as these paid musicians
have little else to do but practice, the
result is most excellent repertoire and
always finely executed. Parade ground
concerts are the thing in summer and
indoor concerts during the opposite sea-
son. There is fine hop-room at nearly
every post, fitted up from subscriptions
from the officers, and here the weekly
hops are held, which are most delightful
in eve respect and always largely att
tended.
1t is popularity of army hops that
no lady, however ugly, whatever her
age, be she old and toothless or young
and charming, ever remains wall
flower throughout the evening. She
shares alike with the bellies of the even
ing, every gentlemen in the room show
ing her the same attention and courtesy
as bestowed upon the fairer and more
youthful damselS. Every year annual
rifle competitions are held at depart